Apparatus for making capacitors



7 July 4, 1944. F. wElss I APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Filed Aug. 2. 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 c wg ll'llllll INVENTOR 3M4 WM" BY ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. F. WEISS APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8'Sheets-Sheet 3 !NVENTOB ATTORNEYS July 4-, 1944.

F. wElss APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 m I I I INVENTOR J WM B W, [517W 9 ATTORNEYS July 4, 1944.

F. WEISS APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Fild Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNE July 4, 1944. F. WEISS APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS I 8 Sheet eet. 6

Filed Aug. 2'

ATTORNEY July 4, 1944. F. WEISS APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS Filed Aug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR 034W 9 PM ATTORNEYS I July 4, 1944. F. WEISS 2,352,926

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAPACITORS FiIedAug. 2, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR 2M; WM

ATTORNEYS M, Ma?

Patented July 4, 1944 APPARATUS FOR Felix: Weiss, mi

KWG cnracrroas eld, N. .lL, ignor to Cornelllliuhiiicr Electric Corporation, a corporation of ihelaware 221 @lai ns.

This invention relates to a machine for assemloling electrical condensers of the type comprising stacked sheets of insulating and conducting material, such as mica and foil, and has for its principal object to provide a machine capable of automatically and rapidly assembling such condensers with accurate relative positioning, of the component sheets.

In accordance with this invention the insulating and conducting material supplied to the machine is automatically stacked in a selected numlcer of layers to form the condensers which are then expelled to a delivery receptacle.

The above and other features and objects will be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 shows a top view oi the machine;

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows a side sectional view of the machine taken at line 3-3 of Fig. i;

Fig. 4 shows a front elevation of the machine;

Fig.' 5 shows an elevation of the gear train looking at the left side with reference to Fig. l; Fig. 6 shows a partial side sectional elevation taken at line 5-6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of the stacking nest;

Fi 8 shows a sectional detail of the stacking nest during a stacking process;

Fig. 9 shows a sectional detail taken at line as of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 shows in'perspective a detail used with the foil feed rollers;

Fig. 11 shows a perspective of the main cam shaft with its cams and clutch drive;

Fig. 12 shows a detail of the foil driving mechanism;

Fig. 13 shows a detail of a ratchet mechanism used in the foil feed drive; Fig. 14 shows a detail of the under part of the mica sheet hopper used in the machine;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective of the mechanical linkage mechanism for driving the mica conveyor;

Fig. 16 shows in section a vacuum valve used with the mica conveyor;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along line ill-57 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 shows a detail of a Geneva movement for operating the condenser stacking platforms;

Fig. 19 shows a wiring diagram of the electrical system of the machine; a

Fig. 20 shows a detail of a clutch drive through which'the Geneva movement is operated;

Fig. 22 shows a section taken along line 22-22 of Fig. 21

Fig. 23 illustrates the mica stacking operation; Figs. 2a to 27, inclusive, illustrate sequential steps in the stacfing of a condenser in the machine;

Figs. 28 and 29 show side and top views respectively of a condenser which has been stacked in the machine;

Fig. 30 shows a modification of the machine for stacking multiple condensers;

Fig. 31 shows a multiple condenser stacked by the modified arrangement of Fig. 30;

Hg. 32 shows a single condenser taken from the multiple condenser of Fig. 31; and

Fig. 33 shows another modification of the machine.

Before proceeding with a detailed description the general organization of the machine is in dicated as follows:

The machine is built on a frame it which supports the various parts. The condensers are stacked in a stacking nest i i (Fig. 1, 6 and '7) which is located at the front central portion of the machine. This nest has fixed sides and corner pieces (Fig. 7) and is open at the bottom. The floor of the nest is constituted by any one of four rectangular platforms 9?, it, it and it, each platform having a heel (92, it, it and i5, respectively) extending vertically upward at the inner edge of the respective platforms and being held by an arm 56 extending from a disc 97 fixed to a rotatable shaft i8, so that the platforms are successively carried down within the sides of the nest, stacked with thecondenser layers, and then carried out the bottom bearing the stacked condensers and delivering them into a suitable receptacle.

A hopper it (see Figs. 1 and 6) located in a vertical position behind the nest it contains insulating sheets, which in the description will be considered as-mica, of the proper size to fit in the nest; and a hollow vacuum rod it is provided for carrying the mica sheets from the hopper to the nest.

The conducting sheets which are to be interleaved with the insulating sheets are obtained from rolls 2! and 22 of the conducting strip,

ordinarily a metal foil, the rolls being located one These strips are fed on each side of the nest. v into the nest at proper times to become interleaved with the mica sheets, and are cut oif by knives 23 and 2t, so that the ends of alternate Fig.21 showsadetail of this clutch inasection; foil sheets are left protruding from each end 2 asoaozc of the mica stack for connection with terminal leads.

The mica and foil feeding mechanism is operated in synchronism by a main cam shaft driven from a constantly driven shaft 26 through a clutch 21 which is controlled by a magnet 28 (see Fig. 2). A counter 29 of the type which can be preset to snap a switch 36 when a predetermined number of layers is stacked serves to operate the magnet to disengage clutch 21 when the number of layers corresponding to' the countersetting has been. stacked, and thus halt the stacking. Pursuant to the disengagement of this clutch, shaft I6 .is automatically rotated for a quarter revolution to carry the platform bearing the stacked condenser down through the bottom of the nest and to move the next platform into position to receive a condenser stack. At the end of this movement of the stacking platforms the counter switch is again set to cause magnet 28 to engage clutch 21, thereby setting into operation the mechanism for stacking the next condenser.

Following is a more detailed description of the several parts of the machine.

The stacking nest The nest H is formed by 'a rear wall 3| and two front corner pieces 32 and 33 fixed in an upright position on the frame. Vertical por; tions 34 and 35 integral with back wall 3| form two rear corners; and the four comers of the nest conform approximately with the rectangular size and shape of the insulating sheets to be stacked. (See the detailed Figs. 6, '1 and 8.) overhanging the top of each of the four corners there is a ledge (36, 31, 38 and 33) which protrudes slightly into the path of travel of the mica corners in coming down into the nest, so that the rectangular mica sheets snap past these ledges.

Leading up to the nest from the two sides thereof are horizontal tables 252 and 253 fixed to the frame, the edges of these tables which extend toward the respective corner members 33, 35 and 32, 34 being sharp to cooperate with foil cutting knives 23 and 24, which are positioned to cut the foil strips at. these table edges.

The front walls 46 and 4| of the front corner pieces (Figs. 6 and '1) are placed with suilicient clearance from the stacking platforms so that when the shaft is rotated, th stacking latforms may pass freely downward within these walls without binding. and the heel of the platform in the next coincides with the front wal s 46 and 4| of the nest. If this clearance be made small, the front walls 46 and 4| may be formed in the shape of a circular arc with the radius at the center of shaft l6, so that the insid of the platform will travel along this circular are without binding against it. In front of the back wall 3i there is fastened a spring'leaf (Fig. 8), which urges the stacked mica sheets against the vertical heel of the platform at the front of the nest.

Main d1i've Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a pulley 56 keyed to the worm shaft 26 is constantly driven by a belt from a driving motor (not shown). This shaft has keyed to it a worm 52 which engages. worm wheel 53 which is attached to a clutch member -54 of clutch 21. The members 53 and 54 are free to rotate on the main' cam shaft 25 by clutch member 55 which is splined to the shaft; and the two clutch members 54 and 55 have cooperating teeth which are caused to engage with each other to drive the shaft when operating arm 56, forked to the clutch member 55, and pivoted to the frame at 51, is pulled by its spring 58. Arm 56 is operated by magnet 28 such that when the magnet isenergized, the armature 59 attached to the arm is pulled toward the magnet against the tension of sprin 58, thereby disengaging the clutch member 55 from 54.

Clutch member 55 has attached to it an arm 66 which is attached at its opposite end to a friction drive 6!, adjustable by screw Sla, placed around the drum of clutch member 54, so that clutch member 55 is driven by the friction of the friction drive even when its teeth are disengaged from the teeth of member 54, except when lug 62 attached to the clutch member 55 strikes one of two steps 63 and 63' fastened to the frame. and spaced 180 apart around the shaft. When the teeth of clutch members 54 and 55 are engaged, these stops are not in the path of the lug 62, but when the clutch disengages, the lug moves endwiseof the shaft with the splined member 55 until the stops lie in its path of rotation; so that the lug after moving endwise strikes the first stop in its path.

Foil feeding and cutting mechanism For the purpose of feeding foil to the nest there are provided two spindles 65 and 66, attached to the frame, for holding the foil rolls 2| and 22 respectively, suitable brake bands 61 and 66 being provided for creating a suitable foil tension.

The foil strip from foil r011 22 is led between feed rolls 69 and 16- (Flgs.- 4 and 9) which are geared together by gears 1i and 12 fixed to their respective shafts 260 and 13 and driven from shaft 13. The upper. roll 69 is grooved concentrically, and in these grooves are placed the prongs 250 of a stripper 25l (see Fig. 10) which i is fastened over the plate 252 and spaced above the plate by suitable shims at the sides to allow the foil strip to feed between plate 252 and its stripper 25L Sufficient pressure is exerted between the rolls to feed the foil between them; and the proper pressure may be provided in any well-known manner, such as by regulating the number or size of shims between the bearin memberof shaft 260 and the plate 252 to which it is attached. The foil from roll 2i is similarly led between rolls 14 and 15 geared together by gears 16 and 11. and driven by shaft 18; and a similar stripper is provided.

The foil strips are led into the nest by intermittent movements created by a driving mechanism operated from the main cam shaft 25 (see Fig. 11). This comprises cams and 8| keyed to shaft '25, each cam having a deep groove with a concentric portion 82 and two oblique portions 63 and 84. Each cam is provided with a cam follower comprising a horizontal arm 85 slidable in a fixed slide 86 (see Figs. 1 and 12) and carrying a roller 61 which engages inthe cam groove, 50 that when shaft 25 rotates, the cam follower oscillates endwise of the shaft. The horizontal arm 65 has linked to its inner end a lever 86, the opposite end. of which is linked to a boss 69 on a gear'wheel 90 which is geared to a gear 5| freely rotatable on shaft 16. Shaft 18 is driven by gear 9! through a ratchet device 92 so that of the machine. "This main shaft 25 is driven 75 the shaft 18 turns only in one direction intermittently. Ratchet 92 is of the well-known spring-ball type as shown in Fig. 13 in which the balls 93 are held in a tap'eredrecess 9d of a block 95, attached to gear 9!, and against a hub 96 on shaft 18 by springs 91. The gear 9i rotates freely in the counterclockwise direction (with respect to Fig. 13) without driving shaft it, but drives that shaft when rotating in the clockwise direction, due to the binding of the balls between the recess of the block and the hub, thus turning the foil feed rollers it and lb intermittently in th feeding direction only.

The mechanism associated with cam for driving the other foil feed shaft is similar, and the parts corresponding to parts 82 through at are given the same numbers but with a prime. The grooves of cams 8d and El are so related to each other that when the follower of cam 8b. is moving to the left and thus' feeding foil from roll 2i, the follower of the other cam Si is also moving to the left but is not feeding any foil from roll 22 because its, spring ball ratchet is not driving. But when the follower of card 86 moves to the right, its spring-ball ratchet does drive and cause its foil feed rolls to rotate. while the other pair of feed rolls are not rotating.

For the purpose of severing the foil strips fed to the nest there are provided the knives 2t and 241, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As they are identical, only knife 22-? will be described. This comprises a cutting blade 26? fastened by a screw 2% to a block 2% which is fastened to the top of a pair of pull-down rods 265i and 2%. These rods are slidable through suitable holes in the frame, and the bottoms of the rods are fastened to a cross piece it? to the middle of which is pivoted a linl; 2%. The lower end of link 23% is pivoted to the end-of a lever 259 which .is pivote'd to the frame at Elli. The other end of lever 269 has a roller 279 which rides on cam 993 attached to shaft ltd. This cam has a sharp high point N2, and every time the roller rides over it, the knife is suddenly pulled down and then let up, thus severing the foil.

The gear ratio between shafts ltd and is 1:1, and the high point of cam W3 is angularly placed relative to cam 80 so that the knife is brought down after every intermittent feeding of a foil strip.

A second cam and follower similar to cam 993 and its follower is also provided on shaft .ld-il to operate the other knife 24?, the high point of the second cam being located angularly about 180 away from the high point of cam W3.

Mica sheet feeding mechanism The vertically positioned hopper lb (Figs. 1. and 6) fastened to the frame behind the stacking nest, has an internal cross section of the size and shape of the mica sheets to be used in stack= ing; and this hopper is filled with a stack of such mica sheets. A pusher bar ml having a flat top extends up through the bottom of the open hopper (Fig. 14) and is urged upward against the bottom of the mica sheet stack by weights 88? attached to the ends of cables 963 which extend over pulleys ltd and are fastened to the bottom of the bar. 'At the top of the hopper there are placed a pair of narrow shoulders its overhanging the upper opening of the hopper to restrain the stack of mica sheets from being pushed up through the top of the hopper by the pusher bar.

The mica sheets are picked upfrom the top of the hopper and placed in the stacking nest by mechanism driven from the main cam shaft 25 as follows:

Shaft 25 is provided with a cam i it having an internal groove Ill with two pronounced high points as shown in dotted lines in Fig-11. The cam groove is engaged by a roller i l2 rotatable on a pin H3 which is fastened to a lever lit pivoted to the frame at H5 (see Fig. 15). The upper end of the lever is linked by a pin H6 which extend across a slot ill of an extension fastened to a slidable member H8. Member H8 is free to slide back and forth along a groove seat lid in a bearing member are which is fastened to the frame.

Member lid is provided with a pair of arms 525 and 822 through which is journaled a shaft 823 which is free to rotate but which is held against endwise movement by collars 825. At the front end of shaft i223 there is fastened an arm lit), the end of which is linked to an arm 5% which extends generally downward and links in turn with a member E27 fastened at the top of a hollow shaft we (see Fig. 6). A vacuum hose ltd is connected to the hollow shaft for the purpose of producing a suction at the shaft in a manner to be described later.

The lower end of hollow shaft H8 shaped as shown at ltd in Fig. 6. tube I28 extends through a vertical in sliding member ltl, and is movable up and down in the following manner; A cam Edd fastened to shaft 25 has a groove t ll inside its rim, with four high points; and a following roller M2 rotatable on a pin M3 which is fixed to a bar M l. follows the cam. Bar ltd is free to move vertically within a slide M5 fastened to the frame. At the top of the bar there are fastened two pins 6% and hill. These pins retain between them an arm its having one end fastened to shaft 823.

Thus, when cam Mb rotates,- the hollow tube ltd is moved frontwards and backwards from a is concave The hollow slide bearing position over the mica hopper to a position overthe stacking nest; and since there are two high spots on the cam lit the tube travels back and forth twice during every revolution of shaft 25 from the hopper to the nest. By the action of cam hill, the hollow tube is moved up and down within its slide, since the up ancl'down movement of bar M l acts to rotate shaft 823 for a portion of a revolution. Since there are four high points on cam Hit the hollow tube moves down and up four times per revolution of. shaft 25: and these high points are so related to the high points of can: i it that every time the tube.

reaches a position over nest, the tube the hopper and over the is moved rapidly down and then up so that its lower end protrudes briefly into the hopper or the nest as the case may be.

To enable the hollow tube to lift mica sheets one at a time from the hopper there is provided a vacuum pump (not shown) which continually pumps while the machine is running A vacuum hose 52% extends from this pump to a valve l5! (see Figs. 1, l6 and 17) which comprises a box 552 having an opening 553 over which is fitted the vacuum hose 528 from the pump. Another opening 55 3 into the box has connected with it the vacuum hose 958 leading to the hollow suc tion tube lit. The valve box also has a vent opening 9-55 leading either to the atmosphere or to a pressure pump, as desired. The three openings 453, ltd and it into the box each lead to a circular cone 156 formed in the box into which is fitted a correspondingly tapered rod l5! held against the taper of the cone by a spring 158 compressed between a washer I59 on the outside of the box and a washer I60 which is against. the

head of a stud bolt I61 extending out from the end of the conical rdd I51. Rod I51 is provided with a slot I62 which connects the two box openings I53 and I54 together when properly turned to that the suction from the pump is applied through hose I29, slot I62 and hose I50 to the hollow stacking tube I28. But when the conical rod is turned away from this position another slot I63 connects the opening I54 with the vent opening I55 so that no suction is appliedto the tube I28, but pressure will be applied to tube I28 if opening I55 be connected to pressure instead of the atmosphere.

For the purpose of operating the vacuum valve,

there is provided (see Fig. 1). a valve cam shaft I64 driven from the main cam shaft 25 through gears I65, I66 and I51, the gears I65 and I61 being fastened respectively to shafts 25 and I64, gear I65 being an idler. tened to shaft I64 has two high points which engage a roller I89 on an arm I10 attached to the tapered valve rod I51 so that every time the roller is lifted by a high point the slot I62 is rotated to connect valve openings I53 and I54, and every time the roller is off a high point-slot IE2 is away from the openings and slot I63 is turned to connect openings I54 and I55, as shown in Fig. 16. I

The valve cam I68 is so adjusted on its shaft I64, relative to the cams H and I40 that the valve is turnedto the position which applies vacuum to the hollow mica rod I28 when the lower end of the hollowrod comes down into contact with the mica stack in the hoppertand the vacuum is maintained from that time untilv the hollow rod is moved forward and down into the stacking nest by its" operating cams, whereupon the vacuum valve shuts off the vacuum and con- .nects the hollow rod with the atmosphere-or with the pressure pump, if used-allowing the mica sheet held at the bottom of the hollow rod and already snapped past ledges 36, 31, 36 and 39, to drop-or beblown down if pressure be used.

Condenser binding and ejecting mechanism The four condenser stacking platforms I2, I3, I4 and I5, all extenli radially from disc I1 at right angles to each other. There is associated with each platform a clamping device (see Figs. 3, 6 and 18) comprising a finger I15 provided with a clamping knob I16 of a soft material such as rubber, the knob being urged toward the face of the platform by a helical spring I11. An arm I16 protruding fromthe finger I16 engages with the surface of a cam I19 attached to the frame. This cam is so shaped and arrangedthat when any of the four platforms is in its stacking position forming; the bottom; of the nest, its clamping finger I15 is held away from the platform against the force of thespring I11 by the cam, 50. as not to obstruct. the stacking operation. When the stacking is completed, the shaft I8 carrying the disc I1 is rotated one-quarter revolution so that the stacked platform, for example I2, passes downward through the bottom of the nest. I

The mechanism for producing the one-quarter revolution is a Geneva movement (Fig. 18). This comprises the slotted Geneva disc I80 having four radial slots I6I at right angles to each other, the Geneva disc I60 being fixed to disc I1, and a A valve cam 58, fasa Geneva arm of disc I83 which is fastened to a shaft I84. The roller engages successively in the successive slots of the Geneva disc I80, so that when shaft I84 makes one revolution the shaft I8 is rotated one-quarter revolution, bringing the next platform I3, into stacking position.

The cam I19 is shaped to have an abrupt recession I85 just below the point where the knob I88 of finger arm I18 rests when its platform is in the stacking position. When the stacked platform is about to move down, the clamping knob I16 is caused to clamp down on the stack by the following mechanism. Cam I19 is shouldered against a member 300 fastened to a bushing 30I placed freely over shaft I6, member 300 being fastened to the frame against rotation. Cam I19 is held on member 300 by pins 302 placed through elongated slots 303 in the member 300 and is permitted a limited degree of rotation as determined by the length of the slots. A tension spring 304 fastened between a pin 305 on fixed member 300 and a pin 308 on cam I13 serves to keep the cam normally in its most clockwise position (with respect to Fig. 3). There is fastened to cam I19 an arm 301 having a tip 308 which is engaged by the Geneva arm roller I82 just after the Geneva arm starts to rotate and before the roller enters the Geneva slot to move the platform. This striking of tip 308 momentarily rotates cam I19 in a counterclockwise direction (with reference to Fig. 3) so that knob I66 drops into recession I85 allowing knob I16 to clamp the stack.

There is placed beneath the platform disc I1 a container I81 (Fig. 6) which holds an adhesive substance such as paraffin and which may be provided with a suitable heating element for keeping the paraffin or adhesive substance melted in the container. For applying the substance to the stacked condensers there is placed in the container a grooved wheel I88 on a shaft I89 which is geared to a shaft I90 driven from shaft I64 by'a chain HI and sprockets I92 and I93. The lower portion of wheel I88 dips into the melted paraffin, carrying it around with the wheel. This wheel is so arranged relative to the condenser platforms that when the platform bearing the stacked condenser is rotating through its lowermost position the outermost edge of the condenser stack engages the rotating wheel, which thereby applies the melted paraffin to the condenser. When the platform is then rotated for the next quarter revolution the paraffined condenser is carried away from the wheel so that the paraffin solidifies, thereby holding the stacked parts of the condenser together.

During the succeeding quarter revolution of shaft I6 the platform'I2 is carried up and during this travel the raised portion I98 of cam I19 gear 3l4 fastened to shaft I84. Shaft 3II rotates at the same rate as shaft I84, and the wiper arm 3I0 is positioned on shaft 3 so that the wiper cooperating roller I82 mounted on a pin fixed in arm is brought up under the foil edge of the stack after shaft I84 has operated to move the Geneva through. its the condenser from the platform there may be provided an air blast through pipe 3I5 which sends a blast of air against the condenser just To facilitate the removal 'of p teeth by a compression spring 224. When thus' Layer counting mechanism The counter 29 can be preset by the operator of the machine to establish the number of layers of foil and-mica sheets which will be stacked upon each stacking platform; and the counter operates to close the switch 30 when the preset number of counter revolutions is reached. The counter shown is of a well known type comp sing a number of tumblers and a tumbler bar. Since such counters are well known, constructional details of it are omitted except for the following brief description of those of its points which cooperate with the switches of the machine. It comprises a counter shaft 200 on which are mounted a number of tumblers 20l (see Fig.

19), each tumbler bearing ten digits numbered 0 to 9, spaced around its circumference, the tumblers being settable by the operator to read the desired number. The tumblers are provided with notches into which a tumbler bar 202- enters when the tumbler notches are all lined up. Rotation of the counter shaft 200 turns the tumblers until the preset number of revolutions is reached, whereupon the notches line up, allowing the bar to tumble in. Tumbling of the bar closes the switch 30 by rotating shaft 202a slightly on its pivots so that movable contact 30a supported on shaft 202a touches fixed contact 30b.

Shaft 203 is the resetting shaft which is customarily provided in counters of this type. One revolution of shaft 203 operates to turn all the tumblers back to zero so that the counting of revolutions of the counter shaft starts over again. Shaft 203 operates to open the switch 30 when the counter is reset to zero, for then the tumbler bar 202 is returned to its untumbled position.

Switch 30 when closed, energizes magnet 28 over wires 205 and 206 from a power source 201, as shown in Fig. 19, so that when this magnet is energized its armature 59 is pulled into the magnet, disengaging clutch member 55 from 54.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 19, when clutch member 55 is in its disengaged postion, the spring arms 2| 0 and H0 of a switch contact 209 lies in the path of lug 52, so that the pair of switch contacts 208 and 209 are momentarily closed by the lug 62 momentarily striking on the other of these two spring arms and rotating them and their contact 209 on pivot 21 I while the lug 62 is being moved toward the corresponding stop 63 or 63' by the brake drive 6|. The momentary closure of the contacts momentarily completes the circuit from the source of voltage 201 through wires 2l2 and H3 and a magnet 2, thereby pulling in its plunger 2l'5 (see Fig. 20).

This magnet plunger 2I5 operates to engage a clutch on shaft I04 which rotates that shaft. This clutch and its drive (Figs. 2 and 20-22) comprise a sprocket wheel 2l6 fastened to shaft 25 coupled by a chain 2|! to a sprocket wheel 2! fastened to a clutch member 219, having internal clutch teeth 220, the members H8 and H9 together being free to rotate on the shaft I04. There is fastened to shaft I84 a clutch block 22| having pivoted in its slot 222 a dog 223 which extends within the clutch teeth 220 and is urged outward into engagement with the engaged the clutch drives shaft I84. Plunger 215 has attached to it a lug 225 having a concaved engaging portion 226 which, in the deenergized condition of the magnet 2| 4, is pulled out from the magnet by leaf spring 221 to engage a lug 228 on dog 223 and thus hold the dog pivoted out of engagement with the teeth 220 on clutch member 2). Upon the momentary pulling in of the plunger 2| 5 by momentary energization of the magnet 2, the lug 225 is disengaged from 228, causing the dog 223 to engage the teeth 220 under action of spring 244, thus causing block 22l' and shaft I84 to which it is fixed, to rotate for one revolution. When the single revolution is complete the dog is again disengaged from the teeth 220 by the camming of its lug 223 on the concaved portion 226 of the lug 225 which immediately after the start of the revolution springs out under action of spring 221, since the magnetization of 2l0 was only momentary. This single revolution of shaft I84 causes shaft l8 to rotate one-quarter revolution by action of the Geneva movement (Fig. 18) during which the succeeding stacking platform is moved into stacking position. v

The counter shaft 200 is rotated from the main cam shaft 25 by a chain 229 engaging with sprockets 230 and 23l on shafts 200 and 25 respectively (Figs. 1 and 5) The gear ratio between the shafts 200 and 25 can be established as desired, but in this particular embodiment the ratio-is preferably 2:1 (two for the counter shaft to one for shaft 25). The reason for this particular ratio being preferable is that two layers of foil and mica are laid on the stacking platform for every revolution of shaft 25, so that with the 2:1 counter ratio the counter will count directly the number of foil and mica layers.

The counter resetting shaft 203 is driven from shaft H! by the train of gears 232, 233 and 234,.

Fig. 30 shows a modification of the stacking nest and its associated hopper and foil feeds capable of stacking a multiple condenser which in this example contains three individual condensers. Foil strips 320 from three foil rolls are fed through a pair of large foil feeding rollers 32l and 322 from one side of the nest and three corresponding foil strips 323 from three other foil rolls are correspondingly fed into .the other side of the nest through feed rollers 324 and 325, these foil feeders being operated by mechanism similar to that already described. Guides 320 serve to keep the foils entering the nest proper spaced apart. The nest 321 is enlarged to receive the three foil strips, and is provided with fed into the individual move over the mica hopper individual condensers 33I, 332 and'333, as shown in Fig. 31, maybe severed into individual condensers as shown in Fig. 32 by severing along the broken lines 334.

Another modification of the multiple stacking arrangement is shown in Fig. 33 which shows three individual nests 335, 336 and 331, instead of one large nest as in Fig. 30. The foil strips are nests from either side in the same way as in Fig. 30, but the micas 338 instead of being large sheets covering all the foils, are small sheets adapted to fit into the individual nests. There are therefore used three mica hoppers 339, 348 and MI spaced apart, to correspond with the nest spacings; and there will be used three mica conveying rods.

Operation The operator leads the two foil strips from rolls 2I and 22 between their respective feed rollers and strippers to the respective knife edges, and fills the hopper I8 with mica sheets. He also presets the counter to establish the number of layers of foil and mica desired for each condenser. The electric power is turned on, starting the driving motor which causes clutch mem ber 54 and gear 53 to .rotate continuously, and also causes sprocket wheel 2I8 and its clutch member 2I9 to rotate continuously. Sincemagnet 28 is still de-energized because switch 38 is still open, spring 58 holds the teeth of clutch member 55 in engagement with the teeth of member 54, and the main cam shaft-25 rotates.

A high point of cam II8 engages its followers causing the hollow mica conveying rod I28 to by sliding member H8; and a. high point of cam I48 then moves under its follower, causing the mica rod to be pushed down into contact with the top mica sheet in the hopper. Vacuum valve I5I then has its tapered rod I51 rotated by action of cam I58 so that slot I62 is positioned to apply vacuum. from the vacuum pump to the hollow rod and thus cause the top mica sheet to cling to the concaved hollow I38 on the bottom of the rod. 'ihis concavity ofthe rod flexes the mica sheet, enabling its edges to clear the retaining ledges I85 and thus permit the sheet to be lifted out of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 6. As the relatively sharp high point of cam I48 passes beyond its follower the plunger rod I28 is lifted upward. The rather broad high point of cam II8 then passes beyond its follower, causing the rod I28 to move forward to a position directly over the stacking nest.

The next sharp high point of cam I48 then causes the rod to come down into the top of the nest where the mica. sheet is snapped past the ledges 38, 31, 38 and 38 (Fig. 8). After the mica sheet is below the ledge, the slight depression 388 on cam I I8 causes the mica plunger to make a very slight further horizontal movement toward the front so that the edge of the mica sheet is carried into direct contact with the heel of the platform. At this moment, cam I68 turns the vacuum valve rod I51 to shut off the vacuum, thus causing the mica sheet to drop down in an unflexed condition on'the stacking platform which is in the stacking position; and the mica rests within the four corners 32, 33, 34 and 35 which establish the mica position of the nest. Further rotation of cam I48 causes the plunger to rise, leaving the mica in the nest: and then cam I I8 operates to carry the mica plunger back over the mica hopper again.

Fig. 23 illustrates the arrying' over of the top mica sheet from the stack. The dotted outline 215 shows the flexed sheet as from the hopper. and dotted outline 216 shows it as it is coming down over the nest. At 211 it is' shown unflexed as it is in the nest.

While the mica plunger is returning to the mica hopper, the cam follower of one of the foil feeding cams, for example, follower 85, moves en'dwise in the direction to cause the ratchet 92 to turn shaft 18 and thus feed the foil strip past knife 23 and into the nest over the mica which has just been laid. The stroke of follower is so related to the degrees rotation of the foil roll 14 that the end of the foil strips reaches a position somewhat inside the far edge of the mica sheet, as shown in Fig. 24. During part of this time the other foil cam follower 85 is moving in the same direction, but since in this directionits ball ratchet 82 does not engage, foil roll 22 does not feed foil.

Then another mica sheet is carried to the nest as before and laid over the foil which has just been fed; this last mica taking a position directly over the first one. As the rod bearing this second mica is coming down into the nest, the high point of cam I93 operates knife 23 to sever the fed foil strip under it; so that the descending plunger rod with the mica sheet pushes the severed foil down flat over the previous mica. The position of the foil severing knife 23 some distance outside the edges of the mica sheets leaves a foil end protruding from between the two mica sheets, as shown in Figs. 24 and 25.

Following the laying of the second mica, and as the mica plunger returns to the hopper, foil strip is fed into the nest from the other foil roll 22, this being fed by action of foil feeding cam 8I moving its follower 85 in the direction which causes its ball ratchet 82' to feed the foil, foil roll 2I now beingat rest because its ball ratchet 82 is now disengaged. Knife 24 is then caused by its operating cam on shaft I64 to sever this foil strip while the next succeeding mica is being brought to the nest, this severing leaving a foil end protruding from the side of the mica sheets opposite the previous foil end, as shown in Figs. 26 and 27.

This stacking sequence and the positions of the sheets are illustrated in Figs. 24 to 2'7.

Fig. 24 shows the prescribed length of foil 218 from roll 2I fed over sheet 211 and the second flexed mica sheet 218 as it is coming down on the end of the vacuum rod. Knife 23 is shown in its position ready'to cut the foil. The opposite foil strip 288 from roll 22 has not yet moved past its knife (not shown in this figure).

Fig. 25 shows. foil strip 218 after it has been severed and pushed down into the nest by mica 218 which now lies flat over the foil. The edges offoil strip 218 lies within the edges of the micas, as determined by the corner pieces 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the nest, except where the foil end protrudes toward its knife.

Fig. 26 shows the other foil strip 288 already fed into the -nest with the third mica 28I coming down over it in the flexed condition, the knife 24 being about to cut the foil.

Fig. 2'7 shows foil 288 severed and pushed down on the stack with the now unflexed mica 28I over it.

Fig. 28 shows a side view and Fig. 29 atop view of a stack which has progressed as far as having two sheets of foil and three sheets of mica. the

it is being lifted.

dotted lines representing the outlines of the foils within the edges of the micas.

This alternate stacking of mica and foil sheets is continued until the number of layers corresponding to the predetermined setting of counter 29 is reached. At this point the counter-operated switch 30 is closed by the tumbling of counter bar; 202, thereby energizing magnet 28 (see Fig. 19) which disengages the-teeth of clutch 2! and causes the clutchmember 55 to continue to be driven only by friction brake 6! around to the point where lug 62 strikes stop 63 or 63'. Lug 62, just prior to reaching the stop, strikes switch arm 2H3, momentarily closing switch contacts 208 and 209, thus momentarily energizing magnet 2M over wires H2 and 2l3, which pulls plunger 2l5 into the magnet. This retracts lug 225 from 228, allowing dog 223 to engage with the teeth 220 of clutch member 2i9 and thus rotate shaft I84 for exactly one revolution, where it is stopped when the lug 228 again strikes lug 225, which in the meantime has returned tothe obstructing position since the energization-of magnet 214 was only momentary. This operates the Geneva to rotate shaft it through one-quarter revolution, thus bringing the next stacking platform l3 into stacking position. in the nest and moving the platform [2 bearing the already stacked condenser into the lowermost position, the stacked condenser being held from falling off the platform by knob H6 on finger which is allowed to press against the stack by the indent I85 of cam H9 after the slight rotation of this cam which occurs just before the platform begins to move down'from its stacking position.

During this one-quarter revolution of shaft is, the counter resetting shaft 203 is rotated at full revolution due to the ezl gear ratio between them, thus resetting the counter to its original position and opening counter switch by ac tion of lug 204 so that magnet 28 is de-nergized, thus permitting the teeth of clutch members 56 and 55 to engage again and cause stacking of the next condenser on new platform E3, in the manner already described. 3

While the stacked platform I2 is in its low position, the outer edge of its stacked condenser which overhangs the platform (Fig. 6) is carried into contact with the paramn covered wheel I88, allowing paralfin to cover this edge and toseep into the layers. Then, during the time this platform is held in its horizontal position opposite the stacking position after the next quarter turn of shaft; Hi, the paraflin solidifies, so that the next time shaft j 8 moves one-quarter revolution and reaches the delivery chute, the wiper arm 310 lifts one edge of'the condenser which has probably adhered to the plat o d the air blast from pipe 3I5 blows its off into the chute.v

Iclaim: 1., Mechanism for stacking sheets of insulation and conducting material to form a condenser, comprising a stacking nest fixed in position and having. a platform constituting the bottom thereof and sides provided with retaining corners to receive the insulating sheets, conducting strip entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners, means for supplying conducting strips, feeding rollers for feeding the conducting strips into the nest through the respective entrance spaces, a pair of knives for severing respectively the two conducting strips outside said corners, a hopper for holding a stack of the in- 16 sulating sheets, a hollow rod having an end movable back and forth between the hopper and the nest, a vacuum line connected to said holiow rod, a valve for turning on and off the vacuum, and a power driven shaft which drives cams having cam followers which operate the conducting strip feeding rollers, the knives, the valve and the rod, the cams being angularly related to each other so that vacuum is applied to the rod when its end is in the hopper and released when in the nest, and the conducting strip supply means operated to feed a length of conducting strip into the nest after each trip of the rod to the nest, the conducting strip being taken alternately from the two rolls to build up the entire condenser.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1 in which the sheet-engaging end of the rod is concave so that it flexes the insulating sheets.

3. Mechanism for stacking sheets of insulating and conducting material to forma condenser, comprising a stacking nest fixed in position and having a platform constituting the bottom thereof and sides provided with retaining corners to receive the insulating sheets, conducting strip entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners, means for supplying conducting strips, feedingrollers for feeding the conducting strips from the two rolls into the nest through the respective entrance spaces, a pair of knives for severing respectively the two conducting strips outside said corners, a hopper for holding a stack of the insulating sheets, a conveying rod movable back and forth between the hopper and the nest, said rod being provided with a device for grasping the insulating sheets, and a power-driven shaft which drives cams having cam followers which operate the conducting strip feeding rollers, the knives, and the conveying rod, the cams being angularly related to eachother so that the eonducting strip supply means is operated to feed a length of conducting strip into the nest after each trip of the rod to the nest,vthe conducting strip being taken alternately from the two rolls to build up the entire condenser.

4. Mechanism for conveying foil strips to a stacking position, comprising a pair of foil rolls, driving rollers for driving the strip from each roll to the stacking position, a power-driven shaft, a pair of cams rotated by said shaft and a follower on each of the cams, a ratchet for transmitting motion from each follower to the corresponding driving roller intermittently in the feeding direction, the two cams being angularly related to feed the strip from the two rolls alternately, a pair of cutting knives, one for each foil strip, and knife operating cams synchronized with the feed rollers for producing alternate cut ting strokes of the knives,'there being a cutting stroke of a knife after each feeding of strip from the corresponding roll.

5. In' a machine for stacking condensers of conducting and insulating sheets, a fixed stack ving nest having a movable platform on which the which said operating arm engages, said cam being shaped relative to positions of said operating arm whilefithe platform is in the stacking position to hold said knob away from the platform so as not to obstruct the platform when the latter is in the stacking position and to allow the knob positioned relative to press against the stacked condenser on the platform when in, a non-stacking position, and cause said knob to move away from the platform.

6. In a machine for stacking condensers of conducting and insulating sheets, a stacking nest fixed in position and having a bottom platform and retaining sides and corners positioned to conform with the size and shape of the insulating sheets, and other retaining sides positioned closer together than the first-mentioned retaining sides and located outside the area conforming with the location of the insulating sheets, to conform with the width and establish the position of the conducting sheets, and knives positioned beyond the last-mentioned retaining sides to cutoff and determine the extremities of the conducting sheets, said corners having small overhanging ledges by which the insulating sheets are snapped in passing down into the nest.

"I. In a machine for stacking condensers of foil and mica sheets, a stacking nest having corners of a configuration to receive the mica sheets and entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners to admit foil strips to the nest, a plurality of bottom platforms held on arms extending from a rotatable shaft, the platforms being positioned relative to the nest so that each platform may.

successively be placed to form a bottom for the nest.

8. In a machine for stacking condensers of foil and mica sheets, a stacking nest having corners of a configuration to receive the mica sheets and entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners to admit foil strips to the nest, a plurality of bottom platforms held on arms extending from a rotatable shaft, the platforms being positioned relative to the nest so that each platform may suecessively be placed to form a bottom for the nest, the front walls of said stacking nest being formed in circular arcs centered at said shaft, to conform with the path .of travel of the platforms.

9. In a machine for stacking condensers of foil and mica sheets, a stacking nest having corners. of a configuration to receive the mica sheets and entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners to admit foil strips to the nest, a plurality of bot- 'tom platforms held on arms extending from a rotatable shaft, the platforms being positioned relative to the nest so that each platform may successively be placed to form a nest, the rear wall of the nest being provided with a resilient member which urges the mica sheets stacked on the platform toward the front wall of the nest.

10. In a machine for stacking condensers of foil and mica sheets, a stacking nest having corners of a configuration to receive the mica sheets and entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners to admit foil strips to the nest, a plurality of bottom platforms held on arms extending from a rotatable shaft, the platforms being to the nest so that each platform may successively be placed to form a bottom for the nest, the width of the platforms being narrower than the width of the nest, and the edge of each platform which is nearest the shaft being substantially in engagement ith the front wall of the .nest when traveling through the nest, so that the stacked sheets protrude beyond the opposite edg of the platform.

11. In a machine for stacking condenser conducting and insulating sheets, a stacking nest fixed in position and shaped to receive the insulat-R g heets and entrances to the nest to admit feeding the conducting bottom for the j the feedings of the vacuum is conducting sheets, a platform positioned relative to the nest so that it may be placed to form a bottom for the nest, the platform being movable from its position at the bottom of the nest.

12. In a machine for stacking condenser conducting and insulating sheets, a stacking nest fixed in position" and shaped to receive the insulating sheetsand entrances to the nest to admit conducting sheets, a plurality of platforms positioned relative to the nest so that each platform may be placed to form a nest bottom, the platforms being movable from their position at a nest bottom.

13. Mechanism for stacking sheets of insulation and conducting material to form a condenser, comprising a stacking nest fixed in position and having a platform constituting the bottom thereof and sides provided with retaining corners to receive the insulating sheets, conducting strip entrance spaces between two pairs of the corners, means for applying conducting strips, a device for strips from the two rolls into the nest through the respective entrance spaces, a pair of knives for severing respectively the two conducting strips outside said corners, a hopper for holding a stack of the insulating sheets, a hollow rod having an end movable back and forth between the hopper and the nest, a vacuum line connected to said hollow rod, a valve for turning on and off the vacuum, and a power driven shaft which drives cams having cam followers which operate the conducting strip supply means, the knives, the valve and the rod, the cams being angularly related to each other so that applied to the rod when its end is in the hopper and released when in the nest, and the conducting strip feeding device is operated to feed a length of conducting strip into the nest after each trip of the rod to the nest, the conducting strip being taken alternately from the two rolls to build up the entire condenser.

14. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said cam is movable, and mechanism for moving said cam comprising an arm attached to the cam and -a lever attached to said platform moving means, said lever being adapted to strike said arm just before said means moves said platform, so that said cam is moved in the direction which causes said operating arm to move said knob against the stacked condenser just before the platform moves out of the stacking posit on.

' 15. A machine for stacking condensers of mica and foil sheets comprising: an assembly nest fixed in position a platform movable vertically through said nest .to the bottom thereof, means for supplying foil strip, means for supplying mica sheets, a foil strip feeder, a power drive, a coupling driven from the drive for intermittently feeding lengths of foil strip from the foil supply means over the platform, a foil cutter operated from said drive in timed relation with said coupling to sever each length of foil strip fed over the platform from the foil strip supply means, a mica sheet conveyor driven from the drive and operated in timed relation with said coupling to carry a mica sheet from the mica supply means to said platform between foil strip lengths.

16. A machine for stacking condensers of mica and foil sheets comprising: an assembly nest fixed in position a platform movable vertically through said nest to the bottom thereof, means for supplying foil strip, means for supplying mica sheets, foil feeding mechanism, a mica sheet conveyor, a power drive, a coupling driven from the drive for intermittently operating said foil feeding mechanism to feed lengths of the foil strip over the platform, alternateones of said lengths being fed from one side of the platform and the other alternate lengths from another side of the platform, foil cutters operated from the drive in timed relation with said coupling to sever each length of foil strip fed over the platform from the foil strip 4 supply means, a mica sheet conveyor operated from the drive in timed relation with said coupling to carry a mica sheet from the mica supply means to said platform between the-feedings of the foil strip lengths.

17. A machine for'stacking condensers of mica and foil sheets comprising: an assembly nest fixed in position a platform movable vertically through said nest to the bottom thereof, means for supplying foil strip, means feeding the strip over the platform from opposite sides thereof, means for supplying mica sheets, a power drive,

a control shaft driven from said drive, a mica sheet conveyor operated from said control shaft to convey mica sheets to said platform one at a time, foil feed rollers operated from said control shaft to feed lengths of foil strip over the platform, first from one foil supply means and then from the other foil strip supply means, said feed rollers being operated in timed relation with said conveyor so that the foil strips alternate with the mica sheets to form an entire condenser stack, and foil cutters on opposite sides of the platform operated from said control shaft to sever from the foil supply means the foil strips fed to the platform.

' 18. A machine for stacking condensers of mica and foil sheets comprising: an assembly nest fixed in position a platform movable vertically through said nest to the bottom thereof, means for supplying foil strip, meansfeeding the strips over the platform from opposite sides thereof, means for supplying mica sheets, a

power drive, a cam shaft provided with camming means, driven from said drive, a mica sheet conveyor operated by said camming means to convey mica sheets to said platform one at a time, foil feed rollers operated by said camming means to feed intermittently lengths of foil strip over the platform, first from one foil supply means and then from the other foil supply means, the camming means being arranged so that the foil strips alternate with the mica sheets to form a condenser stack, foil cutterson 7 tabs on said sides of the stacked condenser, a-

opposite sides of the platform operated by saidv camming means to sever the foil strips from the foil supply means after they are fed to the platform.

'19. In a condenser stacking machine a nest fixed in position, means for laying sheets of insulation one above the other in succession in 7 said nest, mechanism feeding a conducting strip partway over each insulating sheet before thenext insulating sheet is laid, the successive condenser stack to anotherducting strips being fed alternatively from different sides of the insulating sheet, and cutting means severing each conducting strip at a distance outside the edge of the insulating sheet over which it is laid so as to provide alternate conducting tabs lying on top of each other.

20. In a condenser stacking machine, a nest fixed in position, means laying one of a series of sheets in said nest, mechanism adapted to feed a conducting strip over said sheet so that the latter strip lies within the edges of the insulating sheet excepting that edge over which it was fed, cutting means adapted to sever the conducting strip at a distance outside the edge of the insulating strip over which it was fed so as to leave a protruding conducting tab, said first named means then acting to lay another of said insulating sheets over the conducting strip with the edges alined with the edges of the first insulating sheet, mechanism feeding a conducting strip over the last mentioned insulating sheet so that said strip lies within the edges of the insulating sheet excepting the edge over which it was fed, and cutting means adapted to sever the last mentioned conducting strip at a distance outside of the edge of the insulating sheet over which it was fed so as to leave'a protruding insulating tab.

21. An apparatus for stacking sheets comprising a nest fixed in position and a movable platform vertically insertable through said nest to form a bottom support for sheets stacked therein, movable means automatically clamping the stacked sheets against the platform after completion of the stacking, mechanism moving the platform containing the stack to a different position, means moving the platform away from said second position, and means for then unclamping the stack from against the platform and ejecting the stack therefrom.

22. In apparatus for forming condensers, a nest, means supplying insulating and conductor strips, automatic means intermittently feeding insulating strips'to a stack from said supply to said nest, mechanism automatically intermittently feeding conductor strips from said supply in succession between said insulator strips with successive conductor strips between insulating strips and protruding from opposite sides of the stack to form a series of oppositely directed platform vertically movable through said nest and supporting the stack therein, a clamping means automatically gripping said stacked condenser in position against said platform, and means automatically moving said platform and clamping means together to transfer said con position at the conclusion of the stacking.

FELIX WEISS. 

